Printing unit drive



Dec. 11, 1962 w. 5. ZIMMER ETAL 3,067,675

PRINTING UNIT DRIVE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1961 INVENTORS. W/ll/4M 6. 2/4/4154 P0551 7 6. Fifi/F50 P475 4'. i ma D 11, 1 2 w. G. ZIMMER ETAL 3,067,675

PRINTING UNIT DRIVE Filed Feb. 9, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Q Q 43 x Q N w Q Q m "V a Q s S Dec. 11, 1962 w. G. ZIMMER ETAL 3,067,675

PRINTING UNIT DRIVE Filed Feb. 9, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIIIIJIIIIIHIHMIH 1'" m w Ila.

llllllllllllllll'lllll D c- 11, 19 2 w. G. ZIMMER ETAL 3,067,675

PRINTING UNIT DRIVE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1961 w a 0 5 M my M W WZW fifi M; WM FZ M Dec. 11, 1962 w. G. ZIMMER ETAL PRINTING UNIT DRIVE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 9, 1961 IIIIIIII II W 2 w/ j United States Patent 3,067,675 PRINTING UNIT DRIVE William G. Zimmer, Villa Park, Robert G. Peterson, Downers Grove, Peter E. F. Loew, Chicago, and Louis S. Tyma, Jr., Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Miehle-Goss- Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 88,181 13 Claims. (Cl. 101-220) The present invention relates to rotary printing presses and concerns, more particularly, a driving arrangement for the printing couples on a rotary press unit.

It is the primary aim of the invention to provide an improved drive for the printing couples of a rotary press unit which substantially simplifies and facilitates for the press operator the task of conditioning each printing couple for direct drive, reverse drive, or silent nondriven condition.

With more particularity, it is an object of the invention to provide a drive of the above type in which control of the main printing couple drive is exercised entirely from one side of the press unit without adding or subtracting parts, opening housings or otherwise performing any messy or disagreeable task. It is a collateral object to provide a drive of this character which permits rapid as well as convenient control of printing couple rotation.

It is also an object to provide a selective drive as described above which reliably locks in a selected condition and clearly indicates the nature of the adjustment so that the settings on a series of press units can be quickly checked and the possibility of an erroneous setting minimized.

A further object is to provide a printing couple drive of the above character which opens up the center of the press unit to facilitate servicing and adjustment of the other components of the press.

In more detail, it is an object to provide a drive as characterized above which permits helical gears to be smoothly meshed or disengaged so that the advantages of quieter operation and smoother power flow inherent in helical drive gearing can be utilized.

In another aspect, it is an important object of the invention to provide a press unit drive having exceptional versatility, particularly when incorporating a so-called extra color plate cylinder assembly. More specifically, it is an object to provide a drive of the above character that not only permits the printing couples to be reversed-or sil enced, but also allows an extra plate cylinder to be driven along with or in lieu of, the plate cylinder of the printing couples. In still more detail, it is a related object to provide a particularly simple and compact drive as just described that permits helical drive gears to be utilized.

Other objects and advantages of the invention vwill become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a rotary press unit embodying the invention and including an extra color plate cylinder; 1 ll FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the unit shown in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken approximately along. the. line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, slightly enlarged section taken approximately along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevation of a portion of the back of the unit shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken approximately along the line 8--8 in FIG. 7.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, we intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a press unit 10 of the two printing couple type and including a drive which embodies the present invention. The press unit includes two main frame members 11 and 12 (see FIG. 2) surrounded by a housing 13. The frame members and housing are formed so that the press unit, as seen from each end, includes a pair of column portions 14 and 15 connected or spanned by an arch portion 16.

The printing couples of the press unit are defined by a pair of impression cylinders 21 and 22 which cooperate with plate cylinders 23 and 24 respectively. In addition, the press unit 10 is provided with an extra color plate cylinder assembly 25 which includes an extra plate cylinder 26 journaled in suitable framing so as to cooperate with the impression cylinder 21. 1

The cooperating pairs of plate and impression cylinders are geared at one side of the press for uniform and opposite rotation. In the illustrated construction, the impression and plate cylinders 22, 24 are provided with extended shaft portions carrying meshing helical gears 27 and 28 respectively. Likewise, the impression and plate cylinders 21, 23 carry mutually engaging helical gears 29 and 30 respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The extra plate cylinder 26 carries a gear 31 positioned to cooperate with the impression cylinder gear 29.

In keeping with the invention, the press unit 10 is" driven by a vertical power shaft 35 which is journaled in the frame along the column portion 15 of the press unit. A pair of bevel gears 36 and 37 couple the power shaft 35 directly to a cross shaft 38 journaled along the arch portion of the press unit frame. The cross shaft 38 delivers power, through intremediate gears to be described;

to extending shaft portions 39 and 40' of impression cylinders 21, 22, respectively. In this way, the power train driving the press unit moves up the column portion 15- and across the arch portion 16 so as to leave the center of the press unit completely open and accessible.

Pursuant to the invention, a stub shaft is journaled in the press unit frame parallel to the extending shaft 7 portions 39, 40 of the impression cylinders and is provided with a pair of gears 46 and 47 which rotate in opposite directions and are driven by the gear 51 on the cross shaft 38 The'cylinder shaft portions 39, 40 carry axially shiftable gears 48 and 49, respectively which can be selectably shifted into engagement with either one of the gears 46, 47 or into neutral position between the gears so as to alternatively condition each printing couple for direct or reverserotation or to silence the couple. In,

the prefered embodiment, the gear 47 is keyed to the I stub shaft 45 and the gear 46 is freely journaled on the stub shaft. The cross shaft 38 is provided with abevel gear 51 which engages both a first bevel gear52 keyed to the stub shaft 45 and a second bevel gear 53 carried by the drive gear 46. Thus, the drive provided by the cross shaft 38 produces uniform and opposite rotation of ga'gement with the drive gear 46 or the drive gear 47.

It can, therefore, be seen To silence the operation of either one of the printing couples, sufficient space is provided between the drive gears 46, 47 to permit the cylinder gears 48, 49 to be positioned midway between the drive gears so that power is not transferred to the printing couples. In this way, each of the printing couples can be conditioned for direct or reverse rotation or silenced.

One of the features of the drive arrangement shown lies in the fact that the drive gears 46, 47 and the shiftable cylinder gears 48, 49 are each helically toothed for quieter operation and smoother power flow. In the illustrated construction, the cylinder gears 48, 49 are mounted on sleeves 55- and 56, respectively, fixed to the respective extended cylinder shaft portions 39, 40. To permit these helical gears to smoothly mesh as they are shifted into or out of engagement, the shiftable gears 48, 49 and their respective sleeves 55, '56 are provided with interfitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of the respective shaft portions 3 9, 40 that bears a fixed relation to the helical angle of the gear teeth formed on the gears 48, 49 and the drive gears 46, 47. The helical angle of the interfitting portions on the sleeves 55, 56 and the helical angle of the teeth of the gears 48, 49 are proportional to the relationship between the pitch diameters of the respective interfitting portions and gear teeth. In other words, the lead of the interfitting portions on the gears 48, 49 and their respective sleeves 55, 56 is equal to the lead of the helical teeth on the gears 48, 49. It can therefore be seen that shifting the slidable gears 48, 49 axially causes the gears to move in a helical path so that their gear teeth mesh smoothly with the gear teeth of the drive gears 46, 47 without requiring relative rotation between the cylinder shaft portions 39, 40* and the stub shaft 45.

The plate cylinders 23, 24 are also provided with short extending shaft portions 57 and 58 respectively which carry gears 59 that power the inking trains 60, only one of which is shown, that supply ink to the respective printing couples (see FIG. 1).

In carrying out the invention, the shiftable cylinder gears 48, 49 are positioned by handwheels 61 and 62 respectively located outside of the press housing 13 and which both clearly indicate the position or setting of the associated cylinder gear as well as lock the cylinder gear in that position or setting. Since each of the handwheels 61, 62 are identical only one of these assemblies will be described in detail and for that purpose particular atten tion is directed to FIGS. 3, 4 and showing the handwheel 62 and its associated structure for shifting the gear 49, which is attached to and drives impression cylinder 22.

The handwheel 62 includes a generally cylindrical peripheral portion 63 having an inner web 64 ending in a sleeve that is keyed at 65 to a threaded rod 66 journaled in a generally cylindrical member 67 secured to the press housing (see also FIG. 2). A nut member 68 is threadably mounted on the rod 66 and is provided with radially extending projections 69 which are retained in slots 71 formed in the cylindrical frame member 67 (see FIG. 5):

It will thus be apparent that rotation of the rod 66 causes the nut member 68 to traverse the length of the slot 71.

Coupling the nut member 68 and the shjftable gear 49 is a bearing 75 carried by the nut member 68 and anchored to a cylindrical shell 76 which is rigidly secured to the shiftable cylinder gear 49. The bearing 75 rotatively supports the shell 76 and also transmits the thrust of the nut member 68 to the shell 76 as it is moved axially along the rod 66 while permitting the gear to move in a helical path as it slides along the sleeve 56.

In FIG. 3, the gear 49 is shown in the axial position. wherein it is in meshing engagement with the drive gear;

46. By rotating the handwheel 62 so as to run the nut member to its dash line position 68a, the cylinder gear 49 is carried to the left to the position shown in dash lines 49a where it is located midway between the drivegears 46, 47 whereby the printing couple made up of cylinders 22 and 24 is silenced. By running the nut member 68 to the position shown in dash lines 68b, the gear 49 is moved to the position shown in dash lines 4% where it is in meshing engagement with the drive gear 47. In this way, rotation of the handwheel 62 alternatively conditions the associated printing couple for direct drive, reverse drive or breaks the drive to silence the printing couple.

For indicating the setting of the slidable gear 49 and for locking the gear in any one of its alternate positions, the handwheel 62 contains a pair of ring gears 81 and 82 coupled together by a pair of pinion gears 83 and 84. The ring gear 81 is secured to the housing 13 and the ring gear 82 is journaled freely within the handwheel 62. Both ring gears 81, 82 are mounted coaxially with respect to the rod 66.

The pinion gears 83, 84 are locked to a common shaft 85 journaled in the handwheel web 64 and are in meshing engagement with the ring gears 81, 82 respectively. The gear pairs 81, 83 and 82, 84 are formed with differing gear ratios so that rotation of the handwheel 62 causes rotation of the ring gear 82 in the same direction but at a slower rate. The ring gear 82 carries a circular indicator dial 86 which is clearly visible through a circular aperture 87 formed in the handwheel 62. 'In the illustrated construction, the indicator 86 is divided into three segments 91, 92 and 93 arranged to cooperate with an indicia mark 94 located on the handwheel 62. The parts are assembled so that rotation of the handwheel 62 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 drives the nut member 68 to the left in FIG. 3 and slowly rotates the ring gear 82 and thus the indicator plate 86 in a counterclockwise direction. After the handwheel has been rotated a suificient number of turns to position the nut member 68 in its 68a location, the indicator 86 will have rotated 120 degrees so as to bring the segment 93 to the top of the indicator as viewed in FIG. 4. When the indica mark 94 is aligned with the center of the segment 93, the nut member 68 has reached its 68a position and the gear 49 will have been shifted to its silence or neutral position between the drive gears 46, 47. Continued rotation of the handwheel 62 in a counterclockwise direction moves the nut member 68 to its 68b position and, when the indicator segment 92 underlies the indicia mark 94, the shiftable gear 49 will have been moved into meshing engagement with the drive gear 47. The parts can, of course, be returned to their alternate positions by rotating the handwheel 62 in a clockwise direction.

The setting of the shiftable gear 49 is thus clearly apparent when looking at the dial 86. The condition of the drives in a series of press units like the unit 10 can be thus quickly and conveniently checked by a press operator (vivallking along the units and glancing at the handwheel In order to lock the handwheel 62 against rotation when the nut member 68 and the shiftable gear 49 are in one of their alternate positions, a pair of locking arms 101 and 102 are secured to a rocking shaft 103 journaled in the handwheel web 64 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). The arm 101 has a foot portion 104 overlying a cylindrical flange portion of the ring gear 81 having a recess 105, and the arm. 102 has a foot portion 106 which overlies a cylindrical flange 107 formed integrally with the ring gear 82. The flange 107 is formed with' a plurality of notches 108, 109 and 110 corresponding to and aligned with the segments 91, 92 and 93 respectively of the indicator member 86- (see FIG. 4). The rocking shaft 103 is biased by a tensioned spring 111 so as to urge the arms 101, 102 toward the flange portions of the ring gears 81, 82 respectively-and the shaft 103 projects from the handwheel 62 and is provided with a lever 112 which allows the shaft to be'manually. rocked against the bias of the spring It will-be seenthat' when the-foot portion 104 of the arm 101 is seated in the recess 105, formed in the fixed ring gear 81, the handwheel 62 is locked against rotation. However, the foot portion 104 can only enter the recess 105 when the foot portion 106 of the arm 102 overlies one of the recesses 108, 109, 110 formed in the flange 107 of the ring gear 102. As a result, the handwheel 62 is locked against rotation only in the three positions wherein one of the recesses 108, 109, 110 underlies the foot portion 106 and, as has been pointed out above, these three recesses are positioned on the flange 107 so that they underlie the foot portion 106 only when the handwheel 62 has been rotated so as to bring the shiftable cylinder gear 49 into one of its three alternate positions of adjustment.

To change the setting of the shiftable gear 49, the operator lifts the lever 112 so as to swing the foot portions 104, 106 out of the recesses and rotates the handwheel 62 in the proper direction as indicated by the arrows on the face of the hand-wheel. As soon as the handwheel 62 is rotated from its previously set position, the arms 101, 102 are moved relative to the underlying gears 81, 82 so that the lever 112 can be released and the foot portions 104, 106 of the arms Will thereafter slide freely on the cylindrical flange portions of the respective gears 81, 82 until one of the notches 108, 109, 110 again moves into axial alignment with the notch 105. 111 rocks the shaft 103 to drop the foot portions 104, 106 into aligned notches and lock the handwheel 62, and thus the shiftable gear 49, in the new operating position. in this way the press operator receives a positive indication that the desired repositioning of the shiftable gear has been. accomplished.

To prevent inadvertent release of the locking arms 101,

102 and subsequent mispositioning of the shiftable gear 49, a key operated lock 115 having an abutment 116 is mounted in the handwheel 62. When the lock 115 is turned to its locked position, the abutment 116 underlies a lug 117 carried by the rocking shaft 103. The lever 112 therefore cannot be lifted to unlock the handwheel 62 until the key has been inserted in the lock 115 and the abutment 116 rotated clear of the lug 117. Further in accordance with the invention, provision is made for selectively varying the drive from the impression cylinder 21 so that the extra color plate cylinder 26 can be driven with, or in lieu of, the plate cylinder 23. In the preferred embodiment, the gear 30, which is driven by the gear 29 to rotate the plate cylinder 23, is slidably mounted on an extending shaft portion 121 of the cylinder 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 8). The gear 31, which drives the extra plate cylinder 26 from the impression cylinder gear 29, is similarly slidably mounted on an extending shaft portion 122 of the plate cylinder 26 (see FIG. 7). By selectively sliding either or both of the plate cylinder gears 30, 31 into meshing engagement with the impressioncylinder gear 29, it can be seen that the extra plate cylinder 26 or plate cylinder 23 may be driven or silenced as desired.

Since the slidable mounting and axial shifting assembly for each of the gears 30, 31 is the same, only one will be described in detail. It will be understood that both as semblies are similarly constructed.

Taking the shiftable gear as exemplary, and with particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the gear 30 is slidably mounted on a sleeve 125 secured on the extending shaft portion 121 of the plate cylinder 23. The gear 30 and its supporting sleeve 125 are provided with interfitting spline portions having a helical angle having the same proportional relationship to the helical angle of the teeth of the gear 30 as do the pitch diameters of the spline portions and the teeth on the gear 30 so that axial movement of the gear 30 causes the gear teeth to move through a helical path and thus bring them smoothly into meshing engagement with the helically toothed gear 29 secured to the imp'ression cylinder 21 when the teeth on the respective gears are aligned. The gear 30 can thus be slid on the sleeve 125 to the right in FIG. 8 to the dashed line posi-.

At this time, the spring gear 29 as shown in FIG. 2. With the gear 30 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, it is disengaged from the gear 29 so that the plate cylinder 23 is silenced and not driven.

For shifting the gear 30 between its two alternate positions, a worm 126 and worm gear 127 are journaled in a bracket 128 bolted securely to the press frame member 12. The worm gear 127 is carried on a yoke member 129 which is journaled on opposed arms 130 and 131 formed integrally with the bracket 1-28. The yoke member 129 carries fork arms 132 and 133 which are secured to a ring 134 that is coupled to the shiftable gear 30 through a bearing 135 and a flange portion 136 forming a rigid extension r of the gear 30. It can thus be seen that rotation of the worm gear 127 so as to swing the fork arms 132, 133 from the solid line to the dash line positions shown in FIG. 8 exerts a thrust force through the bearing 135 which tends to shift the gear 30 from its full line position to the dash line position 30a. It may be necessary to jog the press to align the gears 30 and 29 so that theywill mesh.

For rotating the worm 126 and thus controlling theposition of the shiftable gear 30, the worm is secured to a socket member 140 having a square socket 141 accessible through an opening 142 formed in the press unit housing 13. Therefore, to rotate the worm 126, a-square tipped tool 143 is inserted through the opening 142 into the square socket 141. Rotation of the tool drives the worm 126 which in turn rotates the worm gear 127 and positions the shiftable gear 30.

In orderto lock the worm 126 in its positions'corre-, sponding to the alternate positions of the shiftable gear 30, a spring biased pin 144 is disposed in the socket member 140 so as to engage a recess 145 in the housing, thus preventing rotation of. the worm. Upon insertion of the tool 143 a shoulder 146 on the tool engages the pin 144 and forces it against its biasing spring out of the recess 145 so as to free the socket member 140 for rotation. It can be seen that the worm 126 cannot be inadvertently rotated unless the proper tool 143 is fitted into the socket member. To insure that the proper number of turns are made by the worm to move the gear 30 fully into either position, the socket member 140 carries a second pin 147 which engages a notch 148 in a disk that is carried on a pinion gear 149. The pinion gear is in meshing engagement with gear teeth 150 formed on the socket member 140 so that rotation of the socket member is accompanied by rotation of the pinion gear. When the pinion gear 149 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 the slidable pin 147 is forced out of the notch 148 and is cammed into a recess 151 provided in the tool 143 to receive the end of the slidable pin. As the member 140 is rotated, the outer end of the pin 147 passes under an arcuate retainer 157 which holds the pin seated in the recess 151. It will be apparent that this locks the tool 143 in the socket member 140 until rotation of the socket member drives the pinion 149 throughone complete revolution bringing the recess 148,

opposite the shiftable pin 147. At this time thetool 143 can be withdrawn, moving the pin 147 out of recess 151 and into the notch 148. The gear ratio between the pinion 149 and the teeth 150 on the socket member 140 is selected so that the notch 148 is positioned opposite the slidable pin 147 only when the worm 126 has been sufficiently rotated to carry the shiftable gear 30 between its fully engaged and its fully disengaged positions. The operator thus has a positive indication as' to whether or'not the worm 126 has been correctly positioned since he can only withdraw the tool 143' when the worm is in one of its alternate positions. 2

The worm gear 127 carries an arcuate indicator memher 155 which is visible through a window 156 in the press housing 13. The indicator member 155 bears .appropriate indicia to visually indicate. Whether the shiftable gear '30 is positioned to' engage the impression cylinder gear 29, or is in the alternate position in which the plate cylinder is silenced.

It can be seen that the above described assembly for shifting the gear 30, is particularly compact as well as being relatively simple and thus economical in design. It will be understood that a corresponding assembly is provided for shifting the gear 31 which is slidably attached to the extra plate cylinder 26.

We claim as our invention:

1. A printing press unit comprising, in combmation, a frame including a pair of column portions spanned by an arch portion, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in said frame, said cylinders of each couple being geared at one side of said frame for uniform and opposite rotation, one cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at the opposite side of said frame, astub shaft journaled in said frame arch portion at said opposite side equidistant from said extending shaft portions, a pair of drive gears on said stub shaft, one of said drive gears being secured for rotation with said stub shaft and the other drive gear being journaled on said stub shaft, a generally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said opposite side alongone of said column portions, a cross shaft journaled in' said frame and extending between said power shaft and said stub shaft, means rotatably coupling one end of said cross shaft and said power shaft, means rotatably coupling the other end of said cross shaft with both said stub shaft and said other driving gear so as to rotate said drive gears at equal speeds in opposite directions, and shiftable means on each of. said extending shaft portions for selectively coupling said printing couples with either of said drive gears, or uncoupling them for non-operation.

2. A printing press unit comprising, in combination, a frame including a pair ofcolumn portions spanned by an arch portion, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in said frame, said cylinders of each couple being geared at one side of said frame for uniform and opposite rotation, one cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at the opposite side of said frame, a stub shaft journaled in said frame arch portion at said opposite side equidistant from said extending shaft portions, a pair of helical drive gears on said stub shaft, one of said drive gears being secured for rotation with said stub shaft and the other drive gear being journaled on said stub shaft, a generally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said opposite side along one of said column portions, a cross shaft journaled in said frame and extending between said power shaft and said stub shaft, means rotatably coupling one end of said cross shaft and said power shaft, means rotatably coupling the other end of said cross shaft with both said stub shaft and said other driving gear so as to rotate said drive gears at equal speeds in opposite directions and a helical gear slidably mounted on each of said extending shaft portions for selectively coupling said printing couples With either of said drive gears, said last-named gears being mounted on helical splines so that their sliding movement follows a helical path to bring said slidable gear into smooth meshing engagement with said drive gears Without rotation of the plate and impression cylinders of the couples.

3. A printing press unit comprising, in combination, a frame including a pair of column portions joined by an arch portion, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in the arch portion of said frame with. the couples being horizontally spaced from one another, said cylinders of each couple being geared at one side of said framefor uniform and opposite rotation, one cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at the opposite side of said frame, a generally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said opposite side along one of said column portions, a horizontally journaled shaft supported by the 3 arch portion of said frame so as to extend substantially at right angles to said printing couples from said one column portion toward the other column portion, means rotatably coupling one end of said horizontal shaft and said power shaft, and means rotatably coupling the other end of said horizontal shaft with said extending shaft portions for driving both of said printing couples.

4. A printing press unit comprising, in combination, a. frame, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in said frame, the 1mpression cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at one side of said frame, a stub shaft journaled in said frame at said one side equidistant from said extending shaft portions, a pair of drive gears on said stub shaft, one of said drive gears being secured for rotation with said stub shaft and the other drive gear being journaled on said stub shaft, a generally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said one side, means rotatably coupling said power shaft with both said stub shaft and said other drive gear so as to rotate said drive gears at equal speeds in opposite directions, shiftable gears on each of said extending shaft portions for selectively coupling said impression cylinders with either of said drive gears, an extra plate cylinder journaled in said frame in operative relation to the impression cylinder of one of said couples, said last mentioned impression cylinder having a gear secured thereto at the opposite side of said frame, the plate cylinder of said one couple and said extra plate cylinder each carrying axially shiftable gears at said opposite side of the frame adapted to mesh with said impression cylinder gear, and means for shifting said last mentioned gears into and out of driving engagement with said impression cylinder gear.

5. A printing press unit comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in said frame, the impression cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at one side of said frame, a stub shaft journaled in said frame at said one side equidistant from said extending shaft portions, a pair of helically toothed drive gears on said stub shaft, one of said drive gears being secured for rotation with said stub shaft and the other drive gear being journaled on said stub shaft, agenerally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said one side, means rotatably coupling said power shaft with both said stub shaft and said other drive gear so as to rotate said drive gears at equal speeds in opposite directions, shiftable helically toothed gears helically splined on each of said extending shaft portions for selectively coupling said impression cylinders with either of said drive gears, an extra plate cylinder journaled in said frame in operative relation to the impression cylinder of one of said couples, said last mentioned impression cylinder having a helically toothed gear secured thereto at the opposite side of said frame, the plate cylinder of said one couple and said helically splined, axially shiftable, helically toothed gears at said opposite side of the frame adapted to mesh with said impression cylinder gear, and means for shifting said last mentioned gears into and out of driving engagement with said impression cylinder gear.

6. A printing press unit comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of printing couples each including plate and impression cylinders journaled in said frame, the impression cylinder of each of said couples having an extending shaft portion at one side of said frame, a stub shaft journaled in said frame at said one side equidistant from said extending shaft portions, a pair of drive gears on said stub shaft, one of said drive gears beingsecured for rotation with said stub shaft and the other drive gear being journaled an said stub shaft, a generally vertical power shaft journaled in the frame at said one side, means rotatably coupling said power shaft with both said stub shaft and saidother drive gear so as to rotate said drive gears at equal speeds in opposite directions, shiftable extra plate cylinder each carrying" gears on each of said extending shaft portions for selectively coupling said impression cylinders with either of said driVe gears, a threaded rod coupled to each of said shiftable gears for shifting their respective gears upon rotation of the rods, means for locking each of said rods in alternate rotational positions, an extra plate cylinder journaled in said frame in operative relation to the impression cylinder of one of said couples, said last mentroned impression cylinder having a gear secured thereto at the opposite side of said frame, the plate cylinder of said one couple and said extra plate cylinder each carrying axially shiftable gears at said opposite side of the frame adapted to mesh with said impression cylinder gear, a worm and Worm gear for shifting said last mentioned gears upon rotation of said worm into and out of mesh with said impression cylinder gear, and means for locking said worm in position.

7. In a printing press having a frame journaling a printing couple, a drive for said couple comprising, in combination, an extending shaft portion forming part of said printing couple, a sleeve secured on said shaft portion, a helically toothed ring gear slidably mounted on said sleeve, said gear and said sleeve having interfitting portions keying the gear to said sleeve, said interfitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of said shaft portion that is related to the helical angle of said ring gear teeth as are the pitch diameters of said portions and said teeth, a pair of oppositely driven helical gears spaced on said frame so that said ring gear can be selectively slid into meshing engagement with either of said driven gears, a threaded rod journaled coaxially of said shaft portion in said frame and carrying a handwheel accessible from the outside of said frame, a nut threaded on said rod, said nut having a neck portion slidable in a slot for-med in said frame parallel to said rod, a rotatable bearing carried on said nut, and a rigid member coupling said bearing and said ring gear for transmitting the linear movement of said member to said slidable ring gear and thus enabling said ring gear to be shifted into and out of engagement with said driven gears by turning said handwheel.

8. In a printing press having a frame journaling a printing couple, a drive for said couple comprising, in combination, an extending shaft portion forming part of said printing couple, a sleeve secured on said shaft portion, a helically toothed ring gear slidably mounted on said sleeve, said gear and said sleeve having interfitting portions keying the gear to said sleeve, said interfitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of said shaft portion that is related to the helical angle of ring gear teeth as are the pitch diameters of said portions and said teeth, a helical gear on said frame, a worm journaled in said frame and carrying a drive portion accessible from the outside of said frame, a worm gear in engagement with said worm, said worm gear having an arm swingable parallel to said shaft portion, a rotatable bearing secured to said arm, and means coupling said bearing and said ring gear for transmitting the linear component of movement of said arm to said slidable ring gear and thus enabling said ring gear to be shifted into and out of engagement with said driven gear by rotating said worm drive portion.

9. In a printing press having a frame containing an axially shiftable gear for varying the drive to a printing couple, an assembly for axially shifting said gear comprising, in combination, a rod journaled in said frame and having one end extending from the frame, means coupling said rod and said shiftable gear so that rotation of the rod shifts the gear, a hollow cylindrical hand wheel secured to the extending end of said rod, a first ring gear within said hand wheel secured to said frame, a second ring gear within said hand wheel journaled relative to said rod and carrying an indicator member 'visible from the outside of said hand wheel, pinion gears journaled on said hand wheel and rotatably coupling said first and second ring gears, said ring and pinion gears having 10 differing gear ratios so that rotation of said hand wheel causes slower rotation of said indicator member, a pair of rigidly connected locking arms movably mounted in said hand wheel each having a foot resting on a respective one of said gears, said first ring gear having a depression underlying one of said feet, said second ring gear having a plurality of circumferentially spaced depressions adapted to underlie the other of said feet so that the first and second ring gears, and thus said hand wheel, is locked when said feet are seated in the respective depressions, and means on the exterior of said hand wheel for shifting said arms to lift said feet from the depressions whereby the hand wheel is freed for rotation the predetermined number of times required to bring the next second ring gear depression beneath its associated foot.

10. In a printing press having a frame containing an axially shiftable gear for varying the drive to a printing couple, an assembly for axially shifting said gear comprising, in combination, a rod journaled in said frame and having one end extending from the frame, means coupling said rod and said shiftable gear so that rotation of the rod shifts the gear, a hollow cylindrical hand wheel secured to the extending end of said rod, a first ring gear within said hand wheel secured to said frame, a second ring gear within said hand wheel journaled relative to said rod and carrying an indicator member visible from the outside of said frame and hand wheel, pinion gears journaled on said hand wheel and rotatably coupling said first and second ring gears, said ring and pinion gears having differing gear ratios so that rotation of said hand wheel causes slower rotation of said indicator member, and a lock for holding said hand wheel in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions indicated by difierent relative positions of said indicator member and said hand wheel.

11. In a printing press, the combination comprising, a frame, a pair of cylinders journaled in said frame defining a printing couple, said cylinders being geared together for uniform and opposite rotation, one of said cylinders having an extending shaft portion, a sleeve fitted onto said extending shaft portion and keyed thereto, a helically toothed ring gear slidably mounted on said sleeve, said gear and said sleeve having interfitting portions keying the gear to said sleeve, said interfitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of said shaft portion that is related to the helical angle of said ring gear teeth as are the pitch diameters of said portions and said teeth, a driven helical gear journaled on said frame so that said ring gear can be selectively slid into and out of meshing engagement with said driven gear, an actuating member mounted coaxially with respect to said ring gear, a bearing coupling said actuating member and said ring gear for relative rotation and axial translation, and means for shifting said member axially so as to slide said ring gear into and out of engagement with said drive gear.

12. In a printing press, the combination comprising, a frame, a pair of cylinders journaled in said frame defining a printing couple, said cylinders being geared together for uniform and opposite rotation, one of said cylinders having an extending shaft portion, a sleeve fitted onto said extending shaft portion and being keyed thereto, a helically toothed ring gear slidably mounted on said sleeve, said gear and said sleeve having interfitting portions keying the gear to said sleeve, said interfitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of said shaft portion that is related to the helical angle of said ring gear teeth, as are the pitch daimeters of said portions and said teeth, a driven helical gear journaled on said frame so that said ring gear can be selectively slid into and out of engagement with said driven gear, an actuating member mounted coaxially 'with respect to said ring gear, a bearing coupling said actuating member and said ring gear for relative rotation and axial translation, a worm and worm gear for shifting said member axially upon rotation of said worm so as to slide said ring gear into and out of engagement with said driven gear, and means for locking said worm in alternate rotational positions.

13. In a printing press, the combination comprising, a frame, apair of cylinders journaled in said frame defining a printing couple, said cylinders being geared together for uniform. and opposite rotation, one of said cylinders having an extending shaft portion, a sleeve fitted onto said extending shaft portion and being keyed thereto, a helically toothed ring gear slidably mounted on said sleeve, said gear and said sleeve having interfitting portions keying the gear to said sleeve, said inter-fitting portions having a helical angle about the axis of said shaft portion that is related to the helical angle of said ring gear teeth as are the pitch diameters of said portions and said teeth, a driven helical gear journaled on said frame so that said ring gear can be selectively slid into and out of meshing engagement with said driven gear, an actuating member mounted coaxially with respect to said ring gear, a bearing coupling said actuating member and said ring gear for relative rotation and axial translation, a threaded rod in threadable engagement with said member for shifting the member axially upon rotation of the rod so as to slide said ling gear into and out of engagement with said drive gear, and means for locking said rod in alternate rotational positions.

Terry et a1. Jan. 6, 1925 Brueshaber Aug. 30, 1927 

